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Latest New Mexico news, sports, business and entertainment at 11:20 a.m. MDT

  • AP-US-BIDEN-VS.-OIL-TRIBAL-LANDS

NEW TOWN, N.D. (AP) — Oil pumped from Native American lands in the U.S. increased almost tenfold since 2009 to more than 130 million barrels annually, bringing new wealth to a handful of tribes. Other tribes left out of the drilling boom have become increasingly outspoken against fossil fuels as climate change's impacts grow worse. Drilling on tribal lands is overseen by the federal government and burning that oil produces greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to millions of vehicles. With huge reserves of fossil fuels on tribal lands still untapped, the Biden administration faces competing pressures to help develop them even as it seeks to curb emissions.

  • GIRL KILLED-TRIAL

LOS LUNAS, N.M. (AP) — Jurors found a New Mexico man not guilty of a murder charge and deadlocked on two other felony charges in the 2018 rape and strangulation death of a 6-year-old girl. The Albuquerque Journal reported that jurors at Leland Hust's trial deadlocked on the charges of child abuse resulting in death and criminal sexual penetration of a child. Prosecutors plan to seek a new trial on those charges. The verdict came nearly three years after Ariana "Jade" Romeo was found dead and bloodied Oct. 11, 2018, in a bedroom of the Rio Rancho house she and her mother shared with Hust and seven others.

  • FOREVER CHEMICALS-NEW MEXICO

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is among those calling on the U.S. government to list so-called "forever chemicals" as hazardous waste under federal law. The governor filed her petition with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday. It follows recent congressional testimony given by New Mexico Environment Secretary James Kenney in which he made the same request. New Mexico is locked in a legal battle with the U.S. Air Force over contamination by the chemicals at two bases in the state. Officials say designating the chemicals as hazardous waste would set a clear regulatory path for New Mexico and other states that are dealing with similar contamination.

  • PANDEMIC RELIEF-NEW MEXICO

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A $1.7 billion wave of federal pandemic relief money has arrived at New Mexico's state treasury amid a power struggle between a Democratic governor running for reelection and leading Democratic lawmakers who draft the state budget. State Treasurer Tim Eichenberg confirmed the deposit from the federal government. The money is linked to the American Rescue Plan Act that comes with broad discretion on shoring up state finances and the local economy. Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham vetoed the Legislature's suggestions on relief spending. She has wagered an initial $5 million in relief money on a sweepstakes awards for people who get vaccinated.

  • DRY NEW MEXICO

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Legislative analysts say many New Mexico communities are behind the curve when it comes to investing in drinking water infrastructure as drought threatens supplies across the arid state. New Mexico provided roughly $876 million for water projects over a five-year period. But analysts told lawmakers Wednesday that communities aren't doing enough to leverage federal and local dollars. They also said the state's system for financing projects is fragmented and tracking outcomes is difficult, leaving it unclear what taxpayers are getting for their money. Questions also were raised about whether the state can efficiently spend its share of federal relief aid and infrastructure funds to address some of the needs.

  • OIL AND GAS OUTLOOK

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Legislative analysts say New Mexico is the only top oil-producing state to have recovered to pre-pandemic levels of production. But they warned a panel of state lawmakers during a meeting Wednesday that the market remains volatile and they should take care not to grow the state's budget based on forecasts that suggest more favorable revenues in the short term. The panel also heard from industry analysts about the effects of the Biden administration's actions on permitting and leasing. They said only a fraction of the inventory of federal land in New Mexico's share of the Permian Basin would be at risk since most of the area already is in production.

  • WILDFIRES-FOREST CLOSURES

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — National forests in Arizona are the go-to spots in the summer as people look to escape sweltering desert temperatures. Now, the options for cooling off are limited. Nearly all the national forests in the state will be fully closed this week as firefighting resources run thin and fire danger remains high. Wildfires burning across Arizona already have forced rural residents out of their homes and sent motorists on detours. Parts of forests in other states also are off-limits, but the shutdowns in Arizona are the most widespread. The closures are altering vacation plans for campers, anglers and mountain bikers ahead of the July 4 holiday.

  • POLICE SHOOTING-SANTA FE

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — One person has been shot to death by city police officers in downtown Santa Fe after authorities responded to reports of a fight and gunfire at a public park. The Santa Fe Police Department says its officers responded Wednesday to a call about a fight in progress at a park and reports from emergency dispatchers that one person had been shot, with the shooter running away. In a news release, the Santa Fe Police Department says that its officers searched the area, confronted an armed person and shot the person to death. No other injuries were reported. An investigation by state police is underway.